Convicted cable thief receives 12-year sentence

The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) inspected 66 hot spot areas and scrapyards last week and PRASA teams attended 27 court cases in various magistrate courts to see that suspects are brought to book. Read more below:

A convicted cable thief received a 12-year sentence suspended for six years after pleading guilty last week. As for the other court cases, all other suspects were denied bail and will remain in custody until their next appearance.

* The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) is a special security initiative funded by PRASA, the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works to focus on by-law compliance, metal theft prevention and to support SAPS Railway Police in the protection of commuters. Its 100 law enforcement officers are trained as Peace Officers with traffic warden and street survival skills and firearm competency and also focus on by-law compliance. The Unit’s performance is reflected separately to monitor performance and assess feasibility.

‘The majority of suspects pleaded guilty as a result of the solid evidence provided by PRASA investigators. The arrests and convictions contribute to the improved predictability of the train service and the reduction of crime on trains and at stations,’ said Metrorail Western Cape Regional Manager, Richard Walker.

‘The statistics bear testimony to the work that the REU has done in its short lifespan and on a limited area of the rail network. I believe the case has been made for this to graduate from a pilot project to a permanent and growing presence on Cape Town’s trains and at railway stations. Commuters have a right to travel safely and reliably, be it on the rail network or on the roads, and we are committed to doing everything possible to make that a reality,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

‘The REU has made an effort to be increasingly visible to commuters who have indicated their gratitude for the additional officers that have made a difference. REU officers have been hard at work apprehending criminals and responding to calls where crime is suspected to have occurred. We remain encouraged by the arrests as this is an indicator that the strategies are working. As the REU continue to make more and more arrests, we hope to see incidents of criminal activity decrease. I am encouraged by the progress that the REU continues to make on a daily basis and thank them for their continued dedication,’ said the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works and Chairperson of the Rail Management Task Team, Donald Grant.

Members of the public can assist the REU by reporting crime and vandalism as this forms part of the intelligence that drives deployment and operations.